Lubricator pump



March 19, 1935. w, KNI KERN U A, 1,995,125

LUBRICATOR PUMP 2 Sheets-Sheef 1 Filed Oct. 10, 1930 March 19, 1935. w. H. KNISKERN ET AL LUBR ICATOR PUMP Filed Oct. 10, 1950 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 VIII/, [EH92 Patented Mar. 19,1935 2 WalterH. 'Kniskern, Prince George County, and

William W. Tuck, Colonial Heights, Va., assignors to AtmosphericNitrogen Corporation,- New York, N. Y., a corporation of New York Application October 10, 1930, Serial No. 487,856

3 Claims. (01. 103-40 The present invention relatesto pumps generally, and more particularly to force-feed lubricator pumps adapted to periodically supply variable: quantities of oil to parts of machines requiring a constant supply of lubricant. 1

The principal object of the invention-lies in the provision of a pump unit comprising a piston and a cylinder together with co-operating mechanism constructed and arranged to positively deliver measured quantities of oil, variable at will,

to one or more parts of a machine operating under such conditions that comparatively high pressures exist at the point or points where the lubricant is required. Although it is to be understood that the pump described herein by way of exam ple is of general application; the invention particularly contemplates the provision ofalubricator adaptable for use in conjunction with heavy duty compressors workingat pressures of say 2,000 pounds per square inch and upwards.

Briefly, the invention comprises a pump unit having a fixed piston'and a recip-rocating cylin der, a discharge valve immediately associated with the fixed piston and an inlet valve in a housing moving with and forming a part of the re-' ciprocable cylinder. In the present embodiment of the invention, the constructionis such that on each suction stroke of thepump afull charge is drawn into the pump cylinder, and during the discharge stroke, the closing of the cylinder inlet valve may be delayed to cause, before the closing of the inlet valve, the'returnof a portion ofthe I justed to cause the lever to permit closing of the full charge in the cylinder to the pump reservoir, and, after the closing of the inlet valve to efiect'the discharge of the balance of the oil in thecylinder into the conduit connecting the pump unit to the part or parts of the machine to be lubricated. To this end, the invention includes a ,lever which acts directly to hold the inlet valve open during certain portions of the discharge stroke of the pump, and a relatively fixed cam which controls the action of the lever and which maybe adinlet valve at different times during the discharge stroke of the pump and thus vary the outputof the pump.

For a more complete understanding of the nature and objects of the invention, reference may be had to the following detailed description taken in connection with the accompanying drawings in which 1 Fig. 1 is a plan view of the pump casing with? the pump units removed;

. Fig. 2 is a vertical section'on the line 2-2 of Fig. 1; r 1,.

Fig.3 is a longitudinal vertical section taken approximately on the line. 3-3 of Fig. 1;. and showing the main shaitxtogetherwiththeshaft operating "ratchet Fig. 4' is an elevation of one of the operating ratchetswith certain parts removed, taken-a1) proximately on the line 4-4 of Fig. 3; Fig. 5 is a vertical section through one of the pump units;

Fig. 6 is a detail, partly in section, of the valve" housingblock on the lower. end of thecylinder; Fig. 7 is a view of the block approximately on the line 7-4 of Fig. 6; r Fig. 8 is an end view of .the block looking from theright in Fig. 6 and. .z i 1: Figs. v9 and 10 are details showing respectively, a cinch head bolt and an associatedcinclr head; Referring to the drawings, the referenceqnu-i' meral 10 indicates generally a casing or reservoir for the oil which is to be delivered to the points of use by the several pumping units. Thecasing 10 is substantially rectangular. in plan, andis provided with a seriesof transverse partitionsill iormingseparatev compartments for each of-the pumpaunits- Cut-outportionslZ in thepartiev tions serve to decrease the weight 'of the 3168811' voir casting and provide, communicationbetween the several compartments so-that the oil. level isthe same in'all-parts oi the reservoir. The

bottom of the casing 13 slopes towardthe front.

affording, along one lower edge of the reservoir,

a channel from which the oilmaybe completely.

withdrawn from the reservoir through an 013311".

ing 14. As shown in Fig. 1, and in detail in Fig; l

2, the front vertical wall of the casing is formed with an indentation 15 to accommodate the glass tube 16. for, anoil gauge. The interior of the gaugecommunicates with the oil reservoir through the opening 17, and the tube 16 is heldfirmly in place by a plug 18 threadedinto the top of therupper edge of the reservoir wall, and having a central aperture 19 providing commu-.

nication between the interior ofthe tube andthe,

atmosphere; The compartment at the right end of the casing mayfconveniently be used tosupply oil to the reservoir, and for this purpose, as shown in Fig. 3, is equipped with a strainer 21' and a removable cover22. g j The end walls of the reservoir and the ,parti tions are cast and machined to provide bearings 24' for the drive shaft indicated generallyat 25. The shaft bearings are made comparatively large so that all surfaces of the several pump operate ing eccentrics 27 may lie entirely within the cir cumferences of the shaft bearings, thus permitmounted on the inner side of the ratchet hub 35. The ratchet cover 39 is likewise rotatably mountthe reservoir endwise.

ervoir around the ends of the shaft is prevented ting the shaft 25 to be placed in and removed from Leakage from the oil resby packing and the glands 31.

Both ends of the shaft project some distance beyond the walls of the reservoir, and have mounted thereon the shaft. operating ratchets indicated generally at 33 and 34. Normally, the pumping units are mechanically driven through a suitable connection between the ratchet 33 and some part of the machine which the pump units are serving to lubricate. Referring to Figs. 3 and 4, the ratchet hub 35 is rigidly. connected to the right end of the shaftby a suitable key 36. The ratchet case 37, having formed integral ly therewith an operating arm 38, is rotatably ed on the ratchet hub, but, as shownin Fig. 3, is positioned on the opposite side of an annular flange projecting from the center of the ratchet hub. An annular hardened steel bearing ring 41, shown in elevation in Fig.4, is set into and keyed to the case 37 by a short key 42. The cover 391is attached to the case 37 by a series of bolts 43. .As indicated in Fig. 4; the'rlange l0v is provided on the periphery thereof with cutouts 44 accommodating the hardened'steel rollers 45, the surfaces of which engage respectively the faces of .the cut-outs 4e and the inner surface ofthe'ring'4l. The operating arm 38 is provided with several openings 52 to receive the end of anoperating pin 53 to, which may be attached alever or arm, not shown, connected to some reciprocating or rotating part of the machine. From the foreg'oing, it will be? apparent that'by reason of the construction described,- including the ring 41, cut-outs 44 1 and the rollers 45, that movement of the operating arm 38 in a counterclockwise direction, Fig. 4,.effects' a. correspond-. ing rotation to the main shaft 25,. and that a clockwise movement of the operating arm 38 imparts'no movement Whatever to the main shaft. -The ratchet34 on the opposite end of the shaft 25 is of substantially the same construction as that already described in connection with ratchet 33. However, the end of the. operating arm 55 is provided with a'handle56 permitting manual operationof the ratchet 34 and the shaft 25 whenever necessary or desirable.

Cast on each of theend walls of the casing is a pair of projections 57 adapted'to receive a connecting pin 58 for rotatably supporting a hingelike stop 59. As clearly indicated in Fig. 3, the sto 59 has on its underside a recess 60 to receive the end of a stop pin 61 set into the -arm-55 of the ratchet 34. When the ratchet =34 not in use, and the lubricator is being operated mechanically through the ratchet 33, the arm 55 of the ratchet 34 is maintained in an upward vertical position by the stop 59 as-shown in Fig. 3. When it is desired to manually-rotate the shaft, the stop 59 is initially raised to release the pin 61 and allow-the arm 55 to be moved from the vertical position. The stop may then be dropped downwardly to rest against the vertical edge of the casing out ofthe path of the pin 60. The right end of the casing, Fig. 3, is provided with a similar stop, not sl1own,'for maintaining the arm 38 in a fixed vertical position when the manual and power ratchets are interchanged.

tical section through a pumping unit operating is positioned. It will be understood that in the present illustration the reservoir 10 is designed to receive eight separate and distinct pump units, and that each unit is a duplicate of that shown and described in connection with Fig. 5.

The horizontal cover portion of each frame 65 is suitably bolted .to the upper edge of the casing asindicated at 66 and 6'7. The frame 65 is formed so as to provide a downwardly projecting cylindersleeve 68, and asimilar downwardly project-- ing adjusting spindle sleeve 69. A supporting arm 70 projects vertically upward from the upper face of the frame, and terminates in an annular casting 71 adapted to receive the pump piston head 72. In the embodiment of the invention illustrated, the pump comprises a fixed piston 75, and a reciprocating cylinder 76 having a cylinder chamber 77.

The lower end of the piston head 72 is enlarged to form an annular shoulder-80 for engagement with the under side of. the annular casting 71. Somedistance upwardly toward the opposite end, the piston head 72 is externally threaded to receive an internally threaded nut 81 which bears against the upper surface of the annular casting 71 and, when tightened. down, pulls the annular shoulder 80 on the lower end' of the plunger head against the under side of the casting 71, thus holding the plunger head 72 firmly in place. The upper end .of thefixed piston is tapered and pressed into the central vertical channel .83 in the piston head 72. Piston 75 is provided with a longitudinal duct 84 effectingcommunication betweenthe cylinder chamber 77 andthe valve chamber formed in the piston head 72.

An outlet valve 86 is seated inthe valve chamber in the piston head.72, and is normally held against the valve seat by a spring 87 bearing at one end'against the-upper side of the valve and at its other end against the lower side of the cinch head bolt 88 shown in detail in Fig. 9. The cinch head bolt 88 is threaded on its lo-werend to fit into a correspondingthreaded portion in the upper end of the outlet valve chamber. Oil discharged by a pump unit is conducted to the part of the machine to be lubricated through a suitpassage 91- to receive cinch head bolt .88 for attaching the cinch head to piston head 72. When the cinch. head bolt is screwed down as far as possible, the cinch head, the cinch head bolt and the piston head are tightly clamped together in the position shown in Fig. 5. The under side of the head of the bolt and the annular exten-' sion 92 on the cinch head are seated in copper gaskets 93. .The cinch head bolt has an-axial passage 94 terminating in a transverse passage 95, thus effecting communication between the upper side of the discharge valve and the annular chamber in the cinch head formed by the groove 96 in the circumference of the cinch head bolt. Leakage from the cylinder around the piston 75 is prevented by suitable packing held in place bya gland 78 and a gland nut 79. V

Forged integrally with the lower end of the cylinder-76 is a block or suction valve housing indicated generally at 100. As shown in Figs.

Sand 6, the block is provided with a cut-out portion 101 to receive the eccentric 102. A replaceable bronze block 103 is set into'theupper side of theicut-out portion 101 totake the thrust during the working stroke. From 'this'arrangement,.it will be apparent that the rotationof :the shaft 25 effects a reciprocationof the cylinder 76, the block 100 and the attached parts hereinafter described. r The pump inlet valve 105 iscarriedin'the block 100, as shown in Fig.- 5, and is urged-"toward closed position against the valve seat 106 by the spring 107 bearing at one end againstthe upper face of the valve 105, and at its other end against the lower end of the inlet valve plug 108. Chamber 109, between the upper surface of the valve 105 and the lower end of the plug 108, communicates with the chamber 77 of the cylinder 76 through the ducts 110'and111. The lower end of. the duct 110 is "closed by aplug 113. lt'will be readily. apparent fromv Fig.6 that access to the valve 105 maybe had by removal of the plug 108 threaded into the upper end of the chamber In accordance with theinvention, the action of the valve 105 is regulated by. the lever or rocker arm shownin elevation in Fig. 5. Arm 115 is pivoted on a pin 116 set into the block'100-near one lower corner. The horizontal arm of the lever 115 carrieson its end a knob 117-which is adapted, under certain adjustments of the pump, to engage the lower end of'the spindle 118 of the valve 105. The vertical portion of the lever 115 is similarly formed witha knob 119 bearing against the. surface of the adjusting spindle indicated generally at 120. As'shown in Figs. 6 and 7, the block 100 is cut outto form a circular opening 121 to receive the lower end of the spindle 120, and with a joining vertically disposed slot 122 to permitoscillation of .the vertical portion of the rocker. arm.115.- :A- stop pin 123 limits the drop of the horizontal arm of the lever 115. 1

Spindle is vertically adjustable in the sleeve 69 and below the shoulder '124, forming a seat for the lower end of thespringu125, is .cut to provide an elongated flattened portion 126 which, in conjunction with a-high: shoulder 127 onsthe end of the spindle, forms a 'cam'surface controlling the operationjo-fthe lever 115;Projecting across the lower end of the opening in the sleeve 69 is a pin .128 positioned againstthe fiat portion 126 insuoh manner, as indicated in Fig. 5, to preventrotation of the spindle 120 during vertical movement thereof. The spindle is urged downwardly by the spring resting against the shoulder 124, and bearing at its upper end against a similar shoulder 129 formed in the spindle sleeve 69. The upper end of the spindle is threaded into an adjusting nut 130 having a flange with a knurled surface 131. The lower end of the nut 130 is seated in a suitable recess in the upper side of the frame 65. Downward movement of the spindle 120 is limited by the nut 133 pinned to the upper end of the spindle and adapted to rest, when the spindle is in its lowermost position, on the upper surface of the adjusting nut 130. A screen 135 is fitted over the lower end of the block 100 to prevent the entrance of solid particles in the oil into the working parts of the pump.

From thedescription in connection with Figs. 3 and 4, it will be apparent that the shaft 25 and. theseveral eccentrics are rotated by the suitable reciprocation or rotation of the operating arms 38-.or. 55 dependingori whether-the pump. is being mechanically or manua1ly "drive n.- Referring again to Fig. 5, they rotation of the shaft is trans; formedinto straight line motion of the cylinder '76 by the eccentric 102 rotatingin the cut-out portion 101 of the block 100.

Assume that it is desired to operate the pump so as to obtain a maximum discharge or feed into thepipe connectedto the cinch'head90. Inthis situation, theadjustment of thespindle-l20 is as1.shown.in. Fig. 5, that is, the spindle in its lowermost position,- and the nut 133 rest upon, the .-.upper surface of the-knurled adjusting n'ut 130;

the flattened surface 126 of the spindle 120,.the knob 117 is out of contact with'the lower end-of the spindle 118 of athe inlet valve 105; Assume that the-downward stroke of the cylinder 76 and theatt'ached block 100 has just begun. At the beginnir'igv of the downward stroke of the cylinder 76 :the intake .valve 105. opens." As the downward stroke of the 'cylinderprogresses, oil from the reservoiris drawn aroundthe inletvalve 105, through the chamber. 109 and. ducts 110 and 111..into the cylinder chamber 77. During the downwardmovementof the block 100, the spindle 120 being fixed, the knob 119 rides on the flattened surface 126, and as long as this condition continues the knob117 in no way. contacts nor interferes with'the, movement of the valver105. The length of the'flattened surface .126 -is' s'uch From the drawings, it'will be noted-that whenztheknob 119 .on the lever 115 rests against that, when the spindle is in zits lowermostposi ti'on, the knob 119 at no time engages the'high shoulder 127 on the lower end of *thespindle. In this circumstance, it will be seen that when the cylinder 76 -and the block reach the lowermost limit, the valve is stillopen, and a full chargeof oil. has been'drawn into the chamber 77. At the beginning ofthe upward or discharge stroke of the cylinder, the valve .105 immediately closes, and the full charge. of oilLinthebhaihber 77 is forced up through the vertical passage-84 in thestationary piston 75, passed thedischarge valve 86, through the-aperture 94"in the cinch head bolt, into the chamber within the cinch head 90, andfthencetinto the conduit connecting the .pumping unit with the, particular part of the lmachinewhich is to be lubricated. Operating thusly, the discharge oft-he pump is arnaximum, and the rocker arm.115 in no way interferes with theopening or closing of the discharge "valve during'either the suction or discharge strokes of the pump.

Now let it be assumed thatit is desired to adoil will be delivered to the point of use on each discharge stroke. The nut 130 is manipulated so as to raise the spindle 120 to its uppermost position. When the spindle is so raised, the adjustment is such that when the block 100 is in its uppermost position, the under sloping surface 137 on the knob 119 is almost in engagement with the upwardly concave surface 138 on the lower end of the flattened portion 126 of the spindle.

At the beginning of the down or suction stroke ,of the cylinder 76, the inlet valve 105 opens.

After the block 100 has been carried downwardly a shortdistance, the knob 119 rides up over the concave surface 138 onto the high shoulder- 127 on the lower end of the spindle. This slightly rotates the lever 115 clockwise about 1 pivot 116 and raises the knob 117 on the horizontal armsufiiciently to engage the lower end of the inlet valve spindle 118 positively holding the valve 105 open while'the' knob" 119 is in engagement with the shoulder 127. It will thus be seen that, during the down stroke of the cylinder, the inlet valve is held open by the vacuum normally created in the chamber 77, and is also positive- 1y held open by the rocker arm 115.. During the down. stroke of the cylinderand block a full charge of'oilis drawn into the chamber 77.

. At the beginning of the up or discharge stroke of the cylinder the valve:105.would normally close because of' the pressure created in the chamber 77. However, as longas the knob 119 rides on the shoulder 127, the knob 117 engages the lower end, of the. spindle 118 ofthe valve 105,

and holdstheflvalve openjthus permitting oil engaged, the valve 105 is held open by the. lever 115, and oil from the chamber 77 is returned to the reservoir. Toward the end of the up stroke of..the'b1ock, the knob 119 slides down over the concave surface 138 to the flat surface 126. In

so doing; the knob 117 is permitted to drop, and

the valve- 105 closes. At the instant of closure of'the inlet valve 105., the discharge valve 86 is opened by-thepressure created in the chamber 77,,Uand. the remainder of '11 the oil in chamber 77 is forced past the discharge valve, and into the conduits connecting the pumping unit to the machine to be lubricated.

. .From the foregoing, itwill be seen that when the spindle S120. is in its lowermost position, the delivery of the pump is a, maximum, and when i the spindle is in its uppermost position the deliveryof thepump is a minimum. It will be apparent that to regulate the pump so as to feed quantities of oil, varyingrbetween the 'maximum and minimum, all that is necessary is to effect suitable vertical-adjustment of the spindle 120.

Itwill be observedthat the present invention provides a. force-feed pump readily adjustable to vary the feed thereof, and of such construction that thisresult is accomplished without adjusting either the stroke .of the cylinder or the position of the fixed piston. This feature of the invention makes theipump particularly suitable for use where it isrequired to deliver the oil against comparatively high pressures for the reason that the two: principal elements of the pump,. i. e. the cylinder and the pistommay be of particularly'rugged construction and not weakened and subject .to more or less rapid wear by. reason .of the direct association with the pump and cylinder of some elements for efiecting adjustment of the pump output. 'In certain of. the appended claims the expression fixed relation with respect to each other is intended to define this nonadjustable relationship of the cylinder and the piston. I

.Weclaim:

1. A pump of the character described comprising in combination a casing, a fixed piston and a movable cylinder mounted therein, an inlet for the cylinder, a valve for controlling the passage of fluid through the inlet, a spindle having a cam surfacethereon supported bythe casing, a lever mounted on the cylinder having one portion engaging the cam surface and a second portion cooperating with the valve and acting to hold the valve open during a portion of the" discharge stroke of they cylinder, and means to move the spindle axially to adjust the cam to vary the feed of the pump. i

2. A pump of the character described comprising in combination a fixed piston, a movable cylinder, an'inlet for the cylinder, a valve housing movable with the cylinder and having therein a valvefor controlling the passage of fluid through the inlet, a cam; a leverpivoted on the housing and controlled by the cam for holding the, valve open :during at least aportion of a stroke of the cylinder to varythefeed of. the pump.

3. A pump of the'characterdescribed comprisingincombination acasing, a fixed piston and a movable cylinder mounted therein, an inlet for the cylinder, a valve housing fixed to and movable with thecylinder, said housing having a valve therein controlling the passage of fluid through the inlet, a'spindle having a cam surface thereon. supported by thecasing, a lever mounted on the housing having one.portion engaging the cam. surfaceand a second portion cooperating withthe valve and acting to hold the. valve open during. at least a portion of the discharge stroke of thecylinder, and means to move the spindle axially toiadjust the cam to vary the feed of the pump. I

- WALTER. H. KNISKERN.

- WILLIAM W. TUCK. 

